Dairy-free cheesy broccoli chicken casserole

This cheesy broccoli chicken casserole is gluten-free, dairy-free, and high in protein! It’s a perfect family and kid-friendly dinner for a busy weeknight. You can make it in advance, heat, and eat.

Let’s just open the clouds and hear the angels sing:

I made a dinner that my children ate.
We’ve been in a serious dinner rut over here. I’ve been making *real dinners* pretty much every night, and I never know what the girls will actually eat. I’ll plate up something that was once their favorite, and they’ll groan as I set it on the table. Or even better, P will be like, “I just wanna go to a restaurant.”
Me too, P.

So, they currently hate things they used to love and sometimes will clean their plates when I make something new or exotic. So basically, I have no clue what to do. Nothing like having young kiddos to give you a true kitchen skills reality check. I went from feeling pretty confident in my abilities to feeling like I suck.

Last week, I was on a mission to make dinners that were as kid-friendly as possible. Sloppy joes: check. The girls ate two bites, didn’t like them, and guess who had sloppy joes leftovers for lunch the next couple of days?

The next night, I made them mac and cheese with fruit and roasted broccoli (always a hit) and heated up an Eat Fit Go meal for myself.

The night after that, I was determined to make something they’d actually want to eat. I thought of the creamy chicken and rice casserole my mom used to make growing up, and created something kinda similar, using the ingredients I had on hand.

Preheat the oven to 375.
In a large pot on medium heat, add the butter and allow to melt.
Stir in the onion and garlic, season well with salt and pepper, and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant and soft.
Add the flour and stir well, and then the milk. Reduce the heat to medium low and allow to thicken slightly (1-2 minutes) before stirring in the mozzarella. Stir well until creamy.
Remove from heat, and add the pasta, chicken, broccoli, and season well with salt and pepper.
Pour into a casserole dish and sprinkle with the parmesan on top.
Bake, covered, for 15-20 minutes until bubbly. If desired, pop the casserole dish until the broiler for a minute or two to brown the cheese on top.

Note: The casserole is totally customizable depending on the veggies you have on hand! The sauce is what makes it.

So, tell me, friends: what was your favorite thing your parents cooked for dinner when you were growing up? My mom’s enchiladas will always be #1.

xo
Gina

Today’s Summer Shape Up workout:This leg workout + steady state. Can’t wait to do this at the gym later today!

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15 Comments

Josieon August 14, 2018 at 9:32 am

It’s dreary and rainy here in New York and I was thinking a casserole type dish would be perfect for dinner tonight. Now I know what I’m making!

I do have a question about the So Delicious cheese. I try to go as dairy free as I can for my lactose intolerant husband, but he’s a picky eater already! How much coconut flavor is in the cheese? I’ve tried So Delicious ice cream and the coconut flavor was a bit much for me and I like coconut. Will other seasonings mask the coconut flavor? Thanks!

My boyfriend sounds like your kids! I can never tell what he’ll be in the “mood” for. He also just got his blood work back and has high triglycerides and A1C (pre-diabetic) so, needless to say he’s resolved to start eating like me.

Hi, gorgeous! I'm so glad you're here. Welcome to The Fitnessista, a healthy lifestyle blog emphasizing quick workouts, quick recipes and adventures as a wife and mom. Though I am a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and weight loss specialist, the information posted here is not intended to substitute the advice of a medical professional. Please check out the about page for more info. Thank you for reading! ❤️